LAUSANNE, Switzerland, September 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Debiopharm Group, SA
(Debiopharm), a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical group of companies with
a focus on the development of prescription drugs that target unmet medical
needs, today presented the 'Debiopharm Life Sciences Award' to Dr Lluis
Quintana-Murci from the Institut Pasteur in France, for his outstanding
innovative research in the emerging field of evolutionary genetics of
infection. Funded by Debiopharm, the ceremony took place at the EPFL (Ecole
Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne) during the EPFL School of Life Sciences
Inaugural Symposium. Dr Quintana-Murci and his institute received a total of
CHF 100'000.

Dr Quintana-Murci leads the research unit of "Human Evolutionary
Genetics" within the Department of Genomes and Genetics at the Pasteur
Institute in Paris. His work focuses on understanding the mechanisms of host
defence and infection in the natural setting, namely how pathogens have
exerted selective pressures on human genes involved in immunity or
host-pathogen interactions. In the past, scientists have used cellular and
molecular biology, immunology or classical genetics to study the biology and
immunology of infection. Dr Quintana-Murci has used a novel approach called
"evolutionary genetics of infection" that has helped in the understanding of
how pathogens have contributed to shape the human genome. A direct
consequence of his work is the identification of a number of genes that are
the key players of host defence against infection.

"We were impressed by the work of Dr Quintana-Murci and his colleagues,"
said Dr Rolland-Yves Mauvernay, President and Founder of Debiopharm Group.
"He has taken the study of host-pathogen interactions to a higher level,
where the pathogen is now recognised as a key driver of genetic selection.
His novel and original approach of studying infection biology may have direct
implications in the development of future treatments against infectious
diseases."

According to Professor Didier Trono, Dean of the Life Sciences Faculty at
the EPFL, "Following the momentum created by the sequencing of the human
genome and capitalising on new technologies of high throughput DNA analysis,
the studies conducted by Dr Lluis Quintana-Murci teach us about the history
of humanity and its struggles against pathogens. They suggest new therapeutic
avenues for the control of infectious diseases."

"Receiving the Debiopharm Life Sciences Award encourages us to go further
in our research on the correlation between genetic variation in human genes
and our chances to develop an infectious disease. This information is
critical to a more precise development of vaccines and therapeutics
concerning these microbial sensors. Most importantly, this prize honours the
field of human evolutionary genetics by recognising it as an indispensable
complement to the clinical and epidemiological genetics of infection," added
Dr Quintana-Murci.

About the Debiopharm Life Sciences Award

The Award was set up in 2006 to mentor and motivate young innovative
European researchers in the field of life sciences. Criteria for applications
include novelty and originality of the work, as well as its importance and
significance in connection with targeted therapeutic fields.

About Debiopharm Group

Debiopharm Group is a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical group of
companies with a focus on the development of prescription drugs that target
unmet medical needs. The group in-licenses promising biological and small
molecule drug candidates. It develops its products for global registration
and maximum commercial potential. Once registered, the products are
out-licensed to pharmaceutical partners for sales and marketing.

Debiopharm independently funds the worldwide development of all of its
products while providing expertise in pre-clinical and clinical trials,
manufacturing, drug delivery and formulation, and regulatory affairs.

Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Debiopharm
has developed four products with global combined sales of $2.6 billion in
2008.

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